The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case continued excavation for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday at Karnataka&rsquo;s sacred pilgrimage town.
The latest breakthrough came from an unexpected burial site, now labeled Site No. 14, where investigators recovered approximately 114 bones, including a skeleton with a saree tied around its neck, suggesting possible strangulation. A red saree was also found nearby.
The skeletal remains, presumed to be male, were buried just 2&ndash;3 feet underground and have been sent to KMC Hospital, Udupi for detailed forensic analysis. An official SIT statement is still awaited.
Simultaneously, Burial Site No. 11&mdash;a previously marked location&mdash;was excavated up to a depth of five feet but yielded no findings. However, a sudden intervention by the whistleblower led the SIT to a nearby site where a skull and several more bones were uncovered.
Adding to the growing mystery, activist T. Jayanth from Ichilampadi village submitted a complaint to the SIT alleging that a minor girl's body was buried illegally by a police officer without due process.
Earlier, SIT chief R. Mohanty had claimed no significant findings, but reports later surfaced of a red, torn blouse and a PAN card belonging to a woman named Lakshmi being recovered from the initial burial site. The whistleblower is also said to have handed over a skull to investigators, allegedly retrieved from one of the sites.
As the probe deepens, the SIT&rsquo;s operation at the Banglagudde region is uncovering shocking details, raising serious concerns about unlawful burials and possible cover-ups.
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Excavation enters Day 7; 114 bones, skull, saree found at surprise burial site

Dharmasthala Burial Case: Bones Found at New Site

Excavation enters Day 7; 114 bones, skull, saree found at surprise burial site

August 5, 2025 | 20:20 IST